Electric fence controller and method of operation



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Jan. 20, 1953 l.. H. UNDERwooD 2,626,364

ELECTRIC FENCE' CONTROLLER AND METHOD OF OPERATION l Filed March 20,194e 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICEELECTRIC FENCE CONTROLLER ANR? METHOD OF OPERATION Leo H. Underwood,Walhcnding, Ohio Application March 20, 1946, Serial No. 655,681

(CI. B-32) 3 Claims. l

rIhis invention `relates to electrical methods and a device for farmfences capable of electrically energizing a fence with high potentialelectrical charges of short duration recurring at regular intervalswhich makes the fence effective as an animal barrier, but removes thedanger of electrocution to animals and human beings.

One object Aof my invention is to provide an economica-l and usefulconstruction of the device with a minimum number of parts and methods toregulate `the interval between and the duration of the electric chargeson the fence.

Another object of my invention is to provide an eicient and economicalmeans of regulating the interval between charges by utilizing a commontransformer to energize the fence, and to operate the timing mechanism.

Another object is to provide a transformer which will effectively andsafely energize the fence with small power loss, when weeds, grass andother objects contact the charged wire.

Another object is to provide an accurate signaling device which willatvall times clearly indicate the electrical conditions of the chargedfence, without consuming additional current to operate said signalingdevice.

Other objects and advantages of the invention which include the methodof operation will become apparent, expressed or implied from thefollowing description of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the motor control mechanism, showingthe mechanism mounted on the fence energizing transformer.

Figure 2 is a vertical fractional view showing various embodiments ofthe invention, including details of the preferred form of bearing meansused in the device.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the electric wiring of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fractional view of Figure 1 illustrating details of anautomatically operated improved switch used in connection with thepresent fence device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the'several views.

vl'n the drawings 36 indicates a suitable pressed steel base upon whichis mounted, by means of screws 2i! a U shaped transformer of the opencore type I2 including an insulating member or block 2l having avertical shaft I provided with bearing members 5-5 adapted topivotallyrecelve and 'support an oscillating armature bar II,counterbalarice weights Ill-Id one at each end of said bar being mountedthereon by means of rivets 9 9, one of said counterbalance weightshaving a support A3 for contact member 28 and a return coil springmember Il being also provided on the armature bar bearing sleeve 35tending to `swing said bar in one direction. A transformer primarywinding I4 having leads I3 and I3, a secondary winding I8 having leadsI9-I9, and an open circuited metallic shield IS with lead I 5 aroundsaid windings are mounted on one leg of said transformer core I2. All ofwhich being further illustrated in detail in sectional Fig. 2. Referringfurther to Fig. 1, 34 indicates a fixed bracket upon which is mounted aninsulating support member 33 adapted to receive one end of coil springmember 8, a condenser 33 and the spring blades 29 and 33. The other endof spring 8 is attached to spring holder member 6 mounted on sleevemember 35 which, by use of suitable bearings contained therein such asshown in Fig. 2 rotatably supports the armature bar I I.

The function of spring blade 38 being to cushion and absorb the shockfrom armature bar I I when, under the force of the return spring 8exerted thereon, and due to its momentum, the swinging' bar II causescontact 22 mounted at one end of spring blade 38 to engage contact 28mounted on armature bar II. When desired, to assure further smoothnessof operation, an auxiliary spring blade 29 may be used in spacedrelation between the fiber support 3i) and the spring blade 38. Asshown, the spring blade 38 has at its free end portion a contact member22 adapted to be intermittently engaged by the aforesaid contact member28, as shown in 4, in the oscillating movement of the armature bar Il.3| indicates a suitable rivet for attaching the said spring blades inthe desired position to insulating support 30. A screw 32 is provided topermit the up and down adjustment of spring blades 29 and 33, and ascrew42 is provided for adjusting the operative position of contact 22 towardor from the center of the core of transformer iron I2. The lead 31 ofcondenser 33 as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, is connected to theconductor spring member 8 at point 3S while the other lead 4l of saidcondenser is connected to conductor spring blade 38 at point 4I.

The lead extending from a source of power 24 is electrically connectedto point 39 and from point 3S the current passes through spring 8 andvthence through the armature bar II to contact member 23, ciearly shownin 1Fig. 3. The other lead 44 from the same source of power 2d extendsto one terminal of "on and off switch 25. Connected to the otherterminal of said switch 25 is one of the leads I3 from primary WindingI4.

The other lead I3 of said primary winding I4 is electrically connectedat point 4I on spring blade contact member 38 as illustrated in Figures1-3 and 4.

The secondary winding I8 is Wound over the primary winding I 4 withsuitable insulation material I'I between the two said windings andhaving leads I9-I9 one lead of which being electrically connected to thebase member 3S, the base member being connected by a suitable conductorto an earth ground 48, Fig. 3, while the other lead from the secondarywinding is connected to intermittently deliver its electrical charge tooutlet terminal 45 and thence to the fence.

As shown contact 28 mounted at one end of armature bar II, iselectrically connected by means of coil spring 8 to terminal 39 and isadapted to intermittently engage contact 22 mounted at the side of theupper portion of core member I2, or at approximately degrees beyond thetransformers maximum pull position. When contact 28 of bar I I engagescontact 22, thereby closing the circuit in primary Winding I 4 on coreI2, the core becomes energized and thus suicient magnetic force isproduced therein to attract the bar thereby separating contacts 22 and28 which breaks the circuit thus deenergizing said core and theoscillating armature bar continues to swing by its inertia on bearings5-5 a predetermined distance around shaft I against the iniiuence ofspring 8. Soon, however, when the inertia which produces the swingingaction of bar II is spent, the spring 8 forces the armature bar II toswing back so that contact 28 will again engage contact 22. This cycleof oscillation produces suitable timing interval between electricalcharges to the fence.

In operation the armature bar l I swings a distance determined by theforce of the initial mag- Y netic pull thereon by the core I2 againstthe force of the spring 8, and the distance of the contact 22 from thecenter of the core I2. Said distance is adjustable by manuallyregulating screw 42.

Figure 4 is a fractional side view of Figure 1 A showing the arrangementof shock absorbing spring blade member 38 mounted on ber support 38, andspring blade 29 associated in space relation therewith, both of saidblades being held in position together upon support 38 by means of rivet3| and screw 32 as shown. The control screw 42 aforementioned isthreaded through the support member 30 for regulating the position ofsaid spring blades 29 and 38 and contact member 22V with respect tocontact member 28 and in positions toward and fromthe center of the coremember I2. In this manner, through the manipulation of screw 42, thetiming of the electrical saturation of the core I2 and that of theintermittent electrical charges to the fence may be obtained.

Figure 2 illustrates the improved form of bearings I prefer to use inconnection with my fence controller device. Said bearings comprisebearing cone members 3-3 one of which is mounted at the lower portion ofshaft member I, and the other of said cone members is located at asubstantial elevation on the upper portion of said shaft member. Sleevemember has recesses for race cups 5 5 at each-end thereof adaptedto'receive balls 4 4 rotatably adjusted therein by means of said conemembers 3-3 and bushing members 2--2 on shaft member I. 6 indicates thecoil springy holder-'and tension adjusting member. Said member 6 is inthe form of a short split tube acting as a clamping spring member and isheld by friction in the desired position upon the sleeve member 35. Bymanually sliding said member 6 up and down or around the sleeve member35, the position and tension of coil spring member 8 may be adjusted.The coil spring member 8 is also electrically connected at point 39 onthe insulated support member 38 thence t0 the base member 36. l is abearing oil retaining felt member. I'I-II indicate suitable insulationmeans between the various parts constituting the winding assembly 23,and coil member I6. The armature bar II is mounted at the lower end ofthe sleeve member 35, the same being spaced closely adjacent to theupper portion of the core member I2 for the free oscillating movementwithin a range determined by the adjustment of return spring 8, theadjustment of position of contact member 22, and the degree of magneticpull from the core member on the armature bar member at the moment thecontact-28 on said bar engages contact 22. It will be understood thatthe greater the magnetic pull from the core on the bar, the greater theswinging movement that will be imparted to it against the resistance ofthe return spring 8, as contacts 22 and 28 break open, thereby securingthe desired degree Vor range of oscillation in the counterbalanced armsof the centrally pivoted armature bar member II, which thus alsoregulates the timing of the electrical charges to the fence.

A neon signaling bulb 26 is shown in a socket 27 suitably mounted ontransformer core I2. One terminal of said socket 21 is electricallyconnected to said core member I2 by screw 20 while the other terminal ofsaid socket is connected by lead I5 to an electrostatic pickup member I6which is in the form of an open circuited turn of suitable foil I8 woundaround the outside of, and insulated from, the secondary winding IB.Said foil member I6 is adapted to intermittently energize the neon bulb26 by means of electrostatic discharges produced by the action of saidtransformer. This method of operation provides an accurate indication ofload andv leakage conditions on the fence, because the electrostaticcharge picked up is in direct .proportion to the voltage present in thesecondary winding I8 and the brightness of the neon lamp 28 changesaccordingly. 1

l. In a periodic interrupter system, a switch mechanism comprising asubstantiaily Uvshaped core; a winding around one leg of said core; adielectric member mounted between the spaced ends of said core; anupright shaft-like member supported by said dielectric member; a sleevesurrounding a portion of said shaft-like member; antifriction bearingsbetween said shaft-like member and said sleeve; an armature bar providedon said sleeve for swinging movement in a horizontal plane spacedslightly abovethe ends of said core; a spiral spring having one endstationarily supported by said core land the'other end fixed to saidsleeve, said spring tending to urge. said armature bar out ofaposition-in align-- ment with the ends of said-core; an electricalcontact stationarily supported by said core; a second contact carried bysaidy armature bar, said contacts being engaged when said bar moves inresponse to said spring; and electrical connections between saidcontacts and a current source, one electrical connection including saidwinding.

2. `In a periodic interrupter system, a switch mechanism comprising aninverted U-shaped core; a winding around one leg of said core; adielectric member disposed between the spaced ends of said core; anarmature bar; means carried by said dielectric member for supportingsaid armature bar for swinging movement in a horizontal planeimmediately above the ends of said core; spring means tending to urgesaid armature bar toward one side of a position in alignment with theends of said core; an electrical contact stationarily supported by saidcore; a second contact carried by said armature bar, said second contactengaging the rst-mentoned contact when said armature bar moves inresponse to said spring; and electrical connections between saidcontacts and a current supply source, one of said electrical connectionsincluding said winding.

3. In a periodic interrupter system, a switch mechanism comprising asubstantially U-shaped core; a winding around one leg of said core; adielectric member mounted between the spaced ends of said core; anupright shaft-like member supported by said dielectric member; a sleevesurrounding a portion of said shaft-like member; antifriction bearingsbetween said shaft-like member and said sleeve; an armature bar providedon said sleeve for swinging movement in a horizontal plane spacedslightly above the ends of said core; a spiral spring having one endstationarily supported by said core and the other end secured foradjustment around said sleeve, said spring tending to urge said armaturebar to one side of a position in alignment with the ends of said core;an electrical contact resiliently supported by said core; a secondcontact mounted for movement with said armature bar, said contacts beingin engagement when said bar is moved by said spring; and electricalconnections between said contacts and a source of current, one of saidelectrical connections including said winding.

LEO H. UNDERWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,585,819 Tupper May 18, 19261,767,104 Volkman June 24, 1930 1,819,260 Peters Aug. 18, 1931 1,931,225Heaton Oct. 17, 1933 2,082,572 Gonsett June 1, 1937 2,104,283 WebsterJan. 4, 1938 2,127,898 Webster Aug. 23, 1938 2,185,950 Rose Jan. 2, 19402,225,227 Mills Dec. 17, 1940 2,294,344 Nunn Aug. 25, 1942 2,304,954Pfanstiehl Dec. 15, 1942 2,316,211 Agnew et al Apr. 13, 1943 2,465,234Kneisley Mar. 22, 1949

